She's Dating the Gangster

She's Dating the Gangster is a 2014 Philippine coming-of-age romantic comedy drama film based on the Pop Fiction book of the same name originally published on CandyMag.com's Teen Talk section[7] and it was popularized on Wattpad[8] by Bianca Bernardino (pen name: SGwannaB).[2][3] The film is directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, topbilled by Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, together with Dawn Zulueta and Richard Gomez.[9] It was distributed by Star Cinema with the co-production of Summit Media and was released on July 16, 2014, in theatres nationwide as part of its 20th anniversary presentation.[10][11][12][13]

She's Dating the Gangster
Theatrical movie poster
Directed byCathy Garcia-Molina[1]
Written by
  • Carmi Raymundo
  • Charlene Grace Bernardo
  • Bianca Bernardino[1]
    (novel)
Based onShe's Dating the Gangster
by Bianca Bernardino[2][3]
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDan Villegas
Edited byJojo Racal
Music byFrancis S. Concio
Production
company
Distributed byStar Cinema
Release date
  • July 16, 2014 (2014-07-16)[4]
Running time
113 minutes[5]
CountryPhilippines
LanguagesFilipino
English
Box office₱286 million[6]

Plot

Kenji Delos Reyes delivers a speech during a wedding. However, his son Kenneth makes out with a girl in a bathroom stall, which opens as the girl’s grandfather enters, leading him to chase Kenneth to the reception hall. Kenji berates Kenneth, to which the latter says that he does not want to be with him but has no choice. He also says he knows about Kenji's relationship with another woman named Athena. Disappointed, Kenji says that Kenneth has no idea how much he loves him and his mother.

Sometime later, Kenneth finds out the plane taking his father to Bicol has crashed. He rushes to the airport to see the list of survivors. There, he meets Kelay, who turns out to be Athena's niece and also wants to see the list. To beat the crowds, Kelay feigns hysteria, claiming that she does not want her father dead, whom she claims is Kenji delos Reyes. Hearing this, Kenneth confronts her and says he is Kenji's only child. Kelay responds by showing Kenji’s picture with Athena. Confirming the picture, Kenneth is accommodated by the airline while Kelay is ignored. Kenneth confronts her to ask who Athena is, and Kelay says that she will tell him once he agrees to update her about Kenji. While Kenneth sleeps at a bus station while waiting for a ticket to Legazpi, Kelay arrives and buy tickets for the two of them.

On the way to Legazpi, Kelay, Athena’s niece, tells the tale of young Athena and Kenji in the 1990s. Kenji is a feared "gangster" who is brokenhearted over Athena "Abi" Tizon. Wanting to get back together, he mistakenly sends his messages to the pager of another girl, Athena Dizon. Athena, not knowing who the messages are from, agrees to meet up with the sender. While Athena plays pool at the venue, she is driven off by Kenji, who is then mugged by a rival group of gangsters teasing him for "Bee"'s absence. Hearing this, Athena and Kenji realize the mix-up in the messages. To Athena's surprise, Kenji kisses her forcefully and tells her that she will be his pretend girlfriend as she owes him for his mugging and in order to get Abi jealous. At first, Athena refuses despite Kenji's bullying, but eventually gives in when he attempts to jump off the school's rooftop.

Athena is treated like a princess in school with Kenji providing her bodyguard and protecting her from jealous girls who bully her. Their pretend relationship eventually becomes real and the two confess their love for each other. Kenji takes Athena to Legazpi to see Mayon Volcano and promises that someday they will get married in the volcano's shadow. When they return to Manila, however, Kenji stops attending school. Athena is then invited by Lucas to see Kenji in the hospital. Worried, Athena hurries and finds a confined Abi suffering from gastric cancer, which was why she broke up with Kenji. Wanting Abi to survive and be happy, Athena breaks up with him. Kenji and Abi get married and Abi gives birth to Kenneth.

In the present, Kenneth, arriving in Legazpi, receives a call from Lucas, who helps look for Kenji. On their way, Kelay is told by her family that Athena is dying of illness. Kelay and Kenneth part ways with Kenneth promising that Athena and Kenji would meet once he finds him. Kenneth finds the hospital where Kenji is confined and reads his letter to him. In the letter, Kenji tells him that he was on his way to Legazpi to say goodbye to his memories with Athena and apologizes for making Kenneth feel that way. When Kenji wakes up, the two hug and reconcile. When Kenji recovers, Kenneth takes him to Athena’s house. Athena tells Kenji about her disease and tells him that his love kept her alive through the years. She says she is happy for Kenji and dies in his arms. Kelay wakes up to a phone call telling her that a flight has gone missing again and Kenneth was on that flight. When she goes to look for him she makes a scene again, telling the media her 'boyfriend' is missing. Kenneth witnesses Kelay and it is revealed that it was actually Kenji who called her. Kenneth asks Kelay if they can have a great love story like his father and Kelay's aunt had and are about to kiss as the screen cuts to black.

Cast
Daniel Padilla portrays young Kenji Delos Reyes/Kenneth Delos Reyes.
Kathryn Bernardo portrays young Athena Dizon/Kelay Dizon.
Richard Gomez portrays present Kenji Delos Reyes.

Several actors and actresses also made their cameo appearance in the film–including Karen Reyes as Bridesmaid, Matutina as Nana Buding, Hyubs Azarcon as Truck Driver, Pooh as News Reporter, Jojit Lorenzo and JM De Guzman as Airline Officers, Rayver Cruz, Patrick Sugui, Carl Ravanes, and Rasheed Rivero as the basketball players, Joross Gamboa and Ketchup Eusebio as the Coach, Janus del Prado as the Bus Ticket Vendor, Joem Bascon as hair stylist, Gerry Bricenio as Bus Conductor, and Olivia Cruz as the Doctor.

Release

Due to the film's huge success, it was screened internationally in selected countries like United States, Canada, Australia, and United Arab Emirates.[15] The film grossed $222,000 after 3 days of showing in North America[16] and after 10 days, the cumulative total was $570,000.[17] The total gross, from the 2-week US and 3-week Canada screenings as well as the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore screenings, is yet to be determined.

Reception

Critical response

Philbert Ortiz-Dy of Click the City gave a positive review in the film, stating that She's Dating the Gangster is at its best when it allows kids to be kids. Its portrayal of young, intensely romantic love is really charming, especially placed as it is in this wacky conception of its period setting. He also stated that "The narrative just can't support this pathos. The film begins to apply fantasy logic to really serious topics. [...] This kind of magical thinking just doesn’t mesh well with the real medical terms that the film just trots out."[18]

Box office

According to Star Cinema's advertising manager Mico del Rosario, the film gathered ₱15 million (US$340,000) on its first day of showing.[19] The film grossed ₱251 million[20] in the Philippines per the Annual Report filed by ABS-CBN to the SEC. The worldwide box office of the film is at ₱296 million.[21] With total gross $5,837,612 the movie hit No. 8 on the 2014 Philippine Yearly Box Office.[22]

See also

References
  1. Blinkremz (May 9, 2014). "She's Dating The Gangster Casts Revealed (List)". Philippine News. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  2. "She's Dating the Gangster shoots to the top of local bestseller lists!". Summit Media. May 22, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  3. Sancon, Allan (January 29, 2014). "Kathryn Bernardo and Jethro Capariño to topbill movie version of the book She's Dating the Gangster". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  4. "What is '71614?'". ABS-CBN Corporation. Star Cinema. May 9, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  5. "She's Dating the Gangster (2014) – Running time". IMDb. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  6. "She's Dating the Gangster (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  7. "She's Dating The Gangster (COMPLETED)". CandyMag.com. Summit Publishing Co., Inc. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  8. "She's Dating the Gangster". Wattpad. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  9. Admin, MT (July 12, 2014). "' S H E ' S D AT I N G THE GANGSTER ' High expectations for KathNiel's romcom - The Manila Times Online". www.manilatimes.net. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017.
  10. "KathNiel to star in film version of 'She's Dating the Gangster'". Rappler. January 30, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  11. "First look: Daniel, Kathryn in 'She's Dating the Gangster'". ABS-CBN Corporation News. June 21, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  12. "VIDEO: She's Dating The Gangster Full Trailer". ABS-CBN Corporation. July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  13. "WATCH: Kathryn, Daniel in 'She's Dating The Gangster' teaser". ABS-CBN Corporation News. June 28, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  14. Dark Angel (July 2, 2014). "Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta to Join KathNiel's "She's Dating The Gangster"". Philippine News. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  15. "International Screening and Venues of She's Dating the Gangster". Star Cinema. ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  16. "MCN: The Weekend Report July 27, 2014". Leonard Klady. Movie City News. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  17. "MCN: The Weekend Report August 3, 2014". Leonard Klady. Movie City News. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  18. Philber Ortiz-Dy (July 18, 2014). "She's Dating the Gangster Works Best When It Embraces Its Silliness". Click the City. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  19. Djdrea (July 17, 2014). "KathNiel's "She's Dating the Gangster" Earns P15M on First Day". Philippine News. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  20. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. Belmonte, Maureen Marie (April 26, 2016). "Celebrating a Teen King: Five reasons Daniel Padilla is king". Push (in English and Filipino). ABS-CBN. Retrieved April 27, 2016. ...many are expecting the tandem to break their own box office record of P296 million for She's Dating the Gangster.
  22. "2014 Philippines Yearly Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 7, 2017
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